As a result, the Dail, instead of holding governments to account, is controlled by them. Even in this economic turmoil, our parties cannot aid us lest they aid each other. There was a time when each party offered a distinctive vision; all they do now is subvert the system.

The Irish constitution outlines a government-selection process whereby, after an election, TDs pick a taoiseach and a cabinet nominated by the taoiseach. This should produce the best available government but, because it has not heard of political parties, our constitution does not factor in the distortions they cause.

It knows nothing, for instance, of the greasy poles that party members must scale